Firecrackers rule

SMOKING ban. Liquor ban. Firecracker ban. People thought these were certain when former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte became the country's new President.

Duterte succeeded in implementing these in Davao City. Filipinos expected he would order them nationwide. But, as to the prohibition on firecrackers, with the Christmas and New Year approaching, there has been no such national ban.

Duterte said, in the weeks leading to the May elections where he beat even the administration bet, he would ban firecrackers nationwide. He had said the noise from firecrackers makes him “explode.” Almost six months later, Duterte is not as categorical.

The latest undertaking on the issue of firecrackers is that the draft executive order placed on Duterte's desk does not call for a nationwide ban but for a strict implementation of rules on the allowable use of firecrackers. The draft pushes for more community fireworks display, especially for the New Year, reports said.

Until a decision is made, the extent of the use of fireworks and the kinds that can be allowed when Filipinos welcome the new year remain unclear. Many thought the accidents in Bulacan would force the imposition of the ban. Fireworks factories in Bocaue — the firecracker capital of the Philippines — and Sta. Maria, both in Bulacan province, got hit by explosions. Five people were killed. Then the Department of Labor and Employment ordered a work stoppage on establishments all over the country that make or sell pyrotechnics and firecrackers. That stoppage order would be lifted when the establishments complied with the regulations. It's a temporary stop, not one that would reduce the amounts of firecrackers to be made available to the market.

In Cebu, what is clear is the designation of areas in the South Road Properties (SRP) where firecrackers may be sold. The area near the Sugbu buiding is designated every Christmas season as the place to sell firecrackers. Only 50 vendors would be allowed there, City Hall officials said. The “Kasadya sa SRP” (“Joy at the SRP”) runs from December to February to cover also the Sinulog, Cebu's festival. Commercial centers will be checked but there is no clear rule to stop the sale of firecrackers outside of the SRP.

Will there be a ban or not? Can we buy firecrackers outside of the SRP? Will firecrackers be sold as in past years in parking lots of malls? Can one city allow pyrotechnics and the other, not?

Even during the lighting of Christmas trees in the past days, several areas included in their celebrations their fireworks displays that delighted the public.

Safety in the manufacture, sale and use of firecrackers are important as past incidents have resulted in the loss of lives, but regulation and monitoring should outweigh risks.

With Christmas and the New Year approaching, there should be clearer rules on what is allowed. What is the rule on firecrackers?